American boxing trainer Freddie Roach to assist Amir Khan in build-up to WBA light-welterweight title defence

American trainer Freddie Roach will break camp with Manny Pacquiao to be with
Amir Khan for the week leading into the Briton’s defence of the World Boxing
Association light-welterweight title against Paul McCloskey in Manchester on
April 16.

Top team: Freddie Roach (left) and Amir Khan will be working together in the week leading up to the Briton's fight against Paul McCloskey on April 16Photo: PA

“Freddie is giving up the training camp with Manny Pacquiao to be with me in Manchester, and I take that as real compliment and a sign of how highly he thinks of me,” Khan told The Daily Telegraph on Monday from his training camp in Baguio City in The Philippines.

“I’m enjoying the solitary working conditions in Baguio City, and have changed to an organic vegetable diet and lean meats under new conditioning coach Michael Vale. I feel stronger and more powerful,” Khan added.

Elsewhere, Adam Booth, David Haye’s manager and trainer, flies to New York on Tuesday with Bernd Bonte, manager of the Klitschko brothers, where the pair will discuss television scheduling for the Haye-Klitschko fight with Home Box Office and Showtime, and finalise details for the bout. They are also expected to discuss the seven countries – South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Monaco and the United States – understood to be involved in vying to host the fight.

Booth revealed he had also been given proof of Wladimir Klitschko’s stomach injury. “I don’t doubt that Wladimir is injured. When he was injured in December [pulling out three days before the scheduled defence against London heavyweight Dereck Chisora] we were nowhere near in any talks about David fighting Wladimir. There would have been no benefit to Wladimir pulling out of that contest.”

Haye has signed to fight either of the brothers, both of whom hold a world title. “They have to nominate which brother will face David by the end of April. We think it’s going to be Wladimir, and they are talking like it will be him.” Booth added: “We have a contract signed as a co-promotion. I would be surprised if the goes to the United States, because there is so much interest in Europe.”